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Chase County Kansas Obituaries


1863 - 2002



Peterson, Leon D

Former Emporian Leon D. Peterson, 94, of Topeka died Jan. 6, 2003, at a Topeka care center.

Mr. Peterson was a commer- cial lighting representative for Kansas Electric Power Co. and was manager of the company's divisions in Cottonwood Falls, Madison. and Emporia. He later managed the Topeka division of the Kansas Power and Light Go., became regional manager of the Topeka region in 1960 and retired from KPL in 1973. He also was executive director of Downtown Topeka Inc., from., which he retired in 1978. Earlier, he was an agent for Aetna Life Insurance.

Leon D. Peterson, the son of Harry W. and Ethel Davis Peterson, was born March 25, 1908, in Topeka. In 1917, the family moved to Emporia, where he graduated from Emporia High School in 1926. He attended Emporia State University and the University of Kansas. He married Helen S. Stowe on July 6, 1934, in Emporia. She died in 1993.

Mr. Peterson was a member of the First Congregational Church in Topeka. He was past president of Rotary clubs in Cottonwood Falls, Emporia and Topeka; the Madison Lions Club; the Emporia Chamber of Commerce; the Topeka Club; the Fortnightly Club; Shawnee County Litter Control; and the Topeka Beautification Association.

He was a member of the board of trustees of the Emporia State University Endowment Association and a past member of the board of directors of the Topeka United Way, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Brewster Place, Mid-American Fair Association and Topeka Savings and Loan. He was past district governor of Rotary International District 571, was made an honorary fellow by the Rotary Foundation in 1970; and named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary in 1975. He received the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1952.

He is survived by two sons, Dr. Robert L. Peterson of Topeka and Donald S. Peterson of Phoenix, Ariz.; and five grandchildren. The memorial service was Jan. 8, 2003, in the First Congregational Church at Topeka. Inurnment was at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia. Memorial contributions can be sent to the church, 1701 S.W Collins, Ave., Topeka, KS 66604 or to the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America, 1020 S.E. Monroe, Topeka, KS 66612.

Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.

Chase County Leader-News, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, Jan 23 2003.





Chase County Death Notices and Obituaries,
compiled and abstracted from the Chase County Courant and Chase County Leader Newspapers
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your obituaries and death notices.



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